Kind of odd that he was bitten by "several" spiders, merely by opening a disk drive door. Recluses aren't at all aggressive, and generally don't go out of their way to attack. It seems highly unsual that they would "charge out in numbers", and bite. But, anything is possible. Did they manage to salvage his hand? (See link showing pictures of what a SINGLE bite will do. Note: These pictures are VERY graphic.) http://www.ascendedhealth.com/brown-recluse/bite-picture.htm We're "fortunate" enough to have both black widows, and the desert recluse here in Vegas. I'm not sure though if anyone has done any studies on the differences on the severity of the bites between the brown recluse and the desert recluse. I wouldn't be worried so much about widows; It would be unlikely to find one tucked away inside equipment, without the tell-tale sprawling tangle of spider web around it. The hobo spider of the Northwest, and the recluse of course, are different stories altogether, as they tend to wander. At any rate, back to the actual topic. ;-) If you are concerned about critters hiding inside your equipment, your first, best defense is caution. If you're in a hot-spot for venomous insects, physically protecting yourself is a good start. Wear a long sleeved shirt, and reasonably thick gloves. Make sure that your sleeve isn't exposed; tuck it under the gloves, or use some tape or other material, to ensure that nothing runs up your sleeve. If you're picking up equipment, bag it in clear plastic. That will keep critters from hopping out into your vehicle. (Watch out for static, though) Clean your equipment outdoors. If you must work indoors, then work in the middle of a large open area, preferrably with light-colored flooring. Laying down sections of white kraft paper works well. Try to establish an EMPTY 5-foot buffer zone around you. The idea is to be able to see escaping insects, before they have a chance to hide somewhere. Working on a cluttered bench is the worst idea; there too many hiding places. I honestly don't have any proven information on using insecticides inside computers / electronics. My gut tells me that it's probably not a good idea; who knows what the residue would do to the boards and components. Merely blowing out equipment with canned air isn't enough to get rid of any would-be stow-aways, either. Short of disassembly, the only other thing I could think of would be a hair dryer. I know. . . such a high-tech solution. Short-term heat from a reasonable distance shouldn't hurt any electronics, but should be enough to kill any insects, or bring them out of hiding. Component chiller would work too, although that may leave residue behind. As for any eggs, I can only recommend inspection & cleaning. T